"東方西方對"理論(theory)"的不同看法值得我們注意.
在東方文化,"理論"是指對已發生的事情做出的解釋.

舉例來說,當我們說,在氣功"理論"中,任何疾病都是氣不通的結果,這樣的"理論"是建立在經驗上. 氣功師父在經過幾百年後,從他們的經驗發現,當人氣不通,就會生病. 他們先有這樣的經驗,才建立"理論".

在西方文化,當我們說糖份攝取太多會得糖尿病,其實我們是先建構一個過度攝取糖分會導致糖尿病的"理論".

我們先有這個"理論",才有經驗.也就是說,先建構這個"理論"之後,我們才去找經驗去證實這個"理論".

我相信,"理論"原意是指"解釋/說明(explanation)".但我們常常把"理論"這個字和"假說/假設"混為一用,以致於我們忘了他的原意."

"It is worthwhile to note the difference regarding theory between Eastern and Western culture. In Eastern culture, a theory is an explanation of what has happened.

For example, when we say in chi kung theory that illness, any illness, is the result of energy blockage, this theory is formulated after experience. Chi kung masters over many centuries discovered from their experience that when people had energy blockage, they became ill. The experience came first, the theory followed.

In Western culture, when we say taking too much sugar will cause diabetes, we formulate a theory that excess sugar causes diabetes. The theory comes first, experience follows. After formulating this theory, we go into the real world to find examples that justify our theory.

I believe that the word "theory" originally meant "explanation", but we have used it so often in place of the word "hypothesis" that we often forget its original meaning."